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Agricultural Permit Streamlining Ordinance Amendments

09ORD-00000-00009 involves amending the County’s Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) to streamline the permit process for agricultural projects on lands zoned for agricultural uses in the inland area of Santa Barbara County located outside of the Montecito Planning Area. The proposal includes amendments to the LUDC that would:

Shift some minor agricultural-related permits from requiring a Land Use Permit to a Zoning Clearance or exemption, or from a Minor Conditional Use Permit to a Land Use Permit. Amendments to achieve these revisions to the process would be required in Chapter 35.21, Agricultural Zones, Chapter 35.42, Standards for Specific Land Uses, Chapter 35.82, Permit Review and Decisions, and Chapter 35.110, Definitions.

Change the threshold for requiring the approval of a Development Plan by the County Planning Commission when the combined floor area of all structures on a lot in an agricultural zone exceeds 20,000 square feet (County LUDC Section 35.21.030).

Status

The County Planning Commission is currently holding public hearings on the proposed amendments to the permitting requirements for agricultural development. At the last hearing on March 3, 2010, the Commissioners provided direction to Planning and Development Department staff on possible revisions to the language previously proposed by staff.

Staff will return with revised language at the next hearing by the Commission on the proposed amendments; this hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2010 which will be held in the Planning Commission Hearing Room in Santa Barbara.